DECORATING TRADE

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 136, 9 June 1926, Page 10

DECORATING TRADE

PAINTERS' DISPUTE

DOMINION CONCILIATION COUNCIL

The dispute between the employees and employers in the painting and decorating trade throughout New Zealand is the subject of a Dominion Conciliation Council, which commenced sittings before the local Conciliation Commissioner (Mr. W. Newton) this morning. The assessors for the employees are Messrs. H. Campbell (Auckland), R. Nicolle (Christchurch), V. Avery (Dunedin), R. M'Dowall (Wellington), and F. Cullen (Nelson), with Mr. F. Cornwell as agent; and for the employers, Messrs. W. A. Poison (Christchurch), T. M. Collins (Christchurch), A. S. Cookson (Dunedin), F. W. Brinsden -(Auckland), W. H. Eott (Wanganui), and T.. A. Wells (Wellington), with Mr. W. C. Prime as agent. No alteration was sought in the weekly hours, but it was asked that provision should be made for workers to have five minutes before ceasing work for the purpose of washing. Mr. Prime said the employers expected service for the time for which the mon wero paid, and he could not see that there would bo- any hardship in tho men washing in their own time. —Mj. Comwcll said the concession was madcTin other parts of the world, and Mr. Campbell remarked that New Zealand was the only country in the world where he had found it did not apply. The clause was referred to tho Court. AN OFFER DECLINED. An addition was made to tho wages clause specifying calcimining, distempering, and lime washing in the duties | of the painter. The unions asked for 2s 9d per hour, an increase of 7d per hour in tho present rate. Mr. Cornwcll said the claim was made because the workers could not always work the full week's hours, on account of slackness in the trade and other considerations. At present many painters were receiving higher than the minimum provided in tho award, but the workers desired to see all workers placed on a better footing than was provided by the minimum, as some employers adhered to what was provided in the award and gave nothing more. He pointed out that painters in Australia and in Canada and the United States were better paid than those in New Zealand. Mr. Cornwell also referred to the unhealthiness of the trade. Mr. Prime said there had been no evidence that the work was morei unhealthy than that in other trades. The award rate of pay must be the minimum for the poorest class of journeyman. Tho employers were prepared to consider the rate of pay on the basis of the Arbitration Court's standard for journeymen, but beyond that they could not go. Mr. Collins: "The good man is worth more to the employer." Mr. Cornwell: "The trouble is that every bit of depression is taken advantage of by many employers to enforce tho minimum rate. The Court always supports the most unscrupulous man in the industry." After further discussion tho employers offered an increase of Id per hour in the minimum rate, but the unions' representative demurred and the clause was held over. EXTRA PAY FOR FOREMEN. In support of the claim for is 6d per day extra for men in charge of jobs, Mr. Cornwell said it was already conceded by some employers, and they wished to have the others brought into line. The employers did not agree that the man in charge should, as a right, be entitled to the extra money, arguing that if he was a competent worker he would be capable of supervising jobs, and that he was the class of man who received more than the minimum. The clause was deferred. The unions agreed after some discussion to forego their claim for double time," overtime raly, and the" present award rate of Is 6d was accepted. ' There was no agreement on f r; claim for Is 6d per meal where workers have to work overtime after 6 p.m^ and similarly every four hours afterwards. . A sub-clause was added providing that no worker should be compelled to work more than five hours without an interval fora meal. (Proceeding.)